Sustainability Initiatives for Australian Hardware: A Policy Report

This report analyzes the sustainability policies and procedures of Australian Hardware, a major hardware retailer. It begins by identifying required sustainability initiatives, such as energy efficiency and waste reduction, followed by a review of best practice models relevant to the business sector. The report then identifies shortfalls in existing policies, particularly regarding financial management and project expenditure, and recommends improvements including staff training and expert consultations. It details the scope of changes needed to align with future sustainability initiatives, such as using LED lighting, reducing paper consumption, and promoting recycling. The report also outlines the stakeholders to be consulted during policy development, including government bodies, company staff, citizens, and stakeholders. Explanatory notes are provided on Australian Hardware's sustainability initiatives and best practice models. The report concludes with a revised set of policy documents, an analysis of current resource usage, and an implementation plan to ensure compliance with sustainability goals. This comprehensive analysis aims to enhance Australian Hardware's environmental performance and business opportunities.

Develop Workplace
policy
and
procedure
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
ACTIVITY 1....................................................................................................................................3
Identify and describe required sustainability initiatives for Australian hardware..................3
ACTIVITY 2....................................................................................................................................3
Research and describe best practice models relevant to business sector................................3
ACTIVITY 3....................................................................................................................................4
Identify and describe shortfalls in the existing policy and procedures documents, by
comparing research and information supplied.......................................................................4
ACTIVITY 4....................................................................................................................................4
Make recommendation for existing policy options based on likely effectiveness time frames
and budget..............................................................................................................................4
ACTIVITY 5....................................................................................................................................5
Clearly identify and summarise scope of change and new document required that will need to
be made to Australian Hardware policy and procedure set to ensure compliance with
requirement of future sustainability initiatives.......................................................................5
ACTIVITY 6 ...................................................................................................................6
Identify and describe who could be consulted with review and develop the revision and
creation of policy developments.............................................................................................6
ACTIVITY 7 ...................................................................................................................................7
Provide two to three paragraph of explanatory notes under each of the following heading. .7
ACTIVITY 8 .................................................................................................................................9
Develop a revised set of policy document including..............................................................9
ACTIVITY 9 ...............................................................................................................................10
Review current resource usage for the organization. Explain how developed policy that
reflects Australian Hardware commitment to sustainability and as a business opportunity.10
ACTIVITY 10 ............................................................................................................................10
Develop an implementation plan for new and revised policy documents that includes......10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFRENCES.................................................................................................................................13
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INTRODUCTION
By adopting policies and procedures a company can fulfil its employer's obligations as
well as responsibilities under specific legislation for example workplace health and safety,
discrimination act, equal pay act and many more. This will also provide guidelines to
management of organisation at the time of developing decision for particular situation
(Ammendolia and et. al., 2016). Organization selected for this report is Australian Hardware,
which is an Australia's largest hardware retailer who operate with approx. 138 stores along with
10000 employees across the country. They offer wide range of products in several categories
such as paint, garden, hardware, tools, home wares and outdoor. The main aim to conduct this
assignment is to understand about Australian Hardware procedures and policy. The topics
covered in report are related to the effectiveness of Australian hardware policy and procedures
for the sustainability. It will also include different model, plans and strategies for implementing
Australian hardware policy and procedures at the workplace of respective company.
ACTIVITY 1
Identify and describe required sustainability initiatives for Australian hardware
There are several sustainability initiative which Australian Hardware may implement in
order to conduct their work effectively, from that some are given below: -
 To make active of air conditioner services in normal hours of business at head office, re-
programming should be done.
 To make policy that last staff will ensure that all air conditioner is off before leaving the
office.
 The paper should be made from general rubbish for recycling as well as all lights will be
switched off at night (Barber and Santuzzi, 2015).
 Management will encourage that they use dual flush capacities of toilets in order to save
water
ACTIVITY 2
Research and describe best practice models relevant to business sector
The sustainability model which will be applied by Australian Hardware include four
points that are based on firm's vision as well as mission i.e. sustainability economic value
creation, internal well-being, environment and community. In respect of sustainability model, it
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is essential for Australian Hardware to develop as well as adopt sustainability policy properly by
considering these point because through these point they able to focus on shareholders,
employees, communities, customers, suppliers, resource, energy and organic growth and
emissions (Birks and et. al., 2017). Respective model will also help Australian Hardware to
implement that strategies and techniques which help them in using resources properly so that less
misuse of resources and energy will done. Along with this, company may also adopt triple line
bottom model for conducting their business activities and operations in appropriate manner.
ACTIVITY 3
Identify and describe shortfalls in the existing policy and procedures documents, by comparing
research and information supplied
There are various policies and procedures which Australian hardware implement while
conducting their business operations and function in effective manner such as Financial
Management policy, reuse of waste paper, use minimum energy, project expenditure policy etc.
While implementing financial management policy and procedure respective company was facing
some major issues. As they are operating through 138 stores around world and person who is
handling financial department at head office is not much knowledgeable that they can combine
and make one report related to finance (Carayon and et. al., 2015). Along with this while
adopting Project Expenditure policy, Australian hardware is shortfall because sometime
employees of firm not able to analyse proper budget of project as well as they do not understand
proper policy and their rules related to it. Moreover, they also find it confusing which impact on
the report related to project expenditure.
ACTIVITY 4
Make recommendation for existing policy options based on likely effectiveness time frames and
budget
Australian hardware can adopt several practices in order to overcome shortfalls related to
its existing policy and procedures documents such as implementing practices as well as
theoretical training to employees. This is because it will help employees to understand how to
use software and system in order to understand financial record of store in effective manner. It
will also helps to increase knowledge and work quality of employees. Through which respective
company can develop strategies properly related to finance management and work in best
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manner. In order to implement this firm may require time duration of 6 months as well as they
need $ 1,273 per employees (Coyne and et. al., 2017). On the other hand, in respect of resolving
issues related to Project Expenditure policy, Australian Hardware may develop practical training
session with experts who tell them how to estimate budget according to the requirement of client
or customers. For this Australian hardware required time of 4 months as well as they also
required $ 15,599 for arranging whole session for their employees.
ACTIVITY 5
Clearly identify and summarise scope of change and new document required that will need to be
made to Australian Hardware policy and procedure set to ensure compliance with
requirement of future sustainability initiatives.
There are several strategies which can be used for developing new Australian Hardware
policy and procedures in order to ensure that it will fulfil future sustainability initiatives of
companies and government. From which some main strategies are given below: -
 Replace light bulbs with LED's or CFL (Low energy light bulb)
It must be including in new Australian Hardware policy and procedures, according to which it is
essential for companies to replace their light bulbs with LED's or CFL's because these are low
energy light bulb which help in saving energy. There are several significant scope of respective
change such as it saves energy, increase safety, required less space, durable, have effective
colour rendering index and many more.
 Turn off light before leaving room or when it is not using
According to this policy and producer of Australian Hardware, it will be necessary for the
companies to turn off their lights at night and at holidays as that will help in saving energy at the
wide level (Dumont, Shen and Deng, 2017). Along with this, this policy and procedures will also
cost effective for companies as they save money of electricity bill as well as in this it is also
necessary for firms to use solar energy. The scope of respective change in Australian Hardware
policy and procedures are it help in improving condition of environment, help in saving energy
as well as money, increase life time of bulb and so on.
 Use cups which can be washed and reuse instead of paper cups
In order to implement respective Australian Hardware policy and procedure, it will be essential
for organizations to avoid use of paper cups and instead of that they use cups or glass which can
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be wash or reuse. This is so because it will help in saving environment and tress as paper are
made up of tree. Along with this scope of using washable or reuse cups are it help in saving
environment, it minimise wastage of paper and many more.
 Use paper products that are made through recycle material
In respect of this policy and procedures which is developed by Australian Hardware, companies
need to used paper products which are developed through recycle or reuse material as this will
help in ensuring environment as well as sustainability of business (Feldman and et. al., 2015).
Their are numbers of scope which an organisation can gain when they adopting papers make up
of recycle material such as it help in saving energy and water, save space at landfills, minimise
greenhouse gases around the surrounding, aid in preserving resources and many more.
ACTIVITY 6
Identify and describe who could be consulted with review and develop the revision and creation
of policy developments
Personnel Requirement
While reviewing and developing policy a company need to consult with numbers of
people so that they can guide company management which will result in development of
effective policy and procedure according to the requirement of firm or situation. From which
some major person are given below in respect of Australian hardware:- Government bodies: These are the main people who are generally involved in very
company decision making process related to policy and procedure. The government
bodies of state or nation level will provide proper guidelines according to which company
will develop policies. These bodies also help in ensuring that all the activities will be
conducted in ethical manner. Company staff: These are main part of company who conduct work so that their firm
attain target and aim successfully and effectively. Staff will also help firm management in
understanding each and every aspects in properly so that policy will be developed in
impressively (Fox and Cowan, 2015). Moreover staff will also help in reviewing new
developed policy because they will provide feedback of before and after situation. Citizen: Here citizen refers to society, which are essential to considered while developing
decision because these people also get impacted through it. So it is essential for company
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to involve society because if they not like policy of firm they avoid to purchase their
products and services which may affect company profitability.
 Stakeholder: A company have several stakeholder which support them on financial
background so it is essential for firm to inform as well as take suggestion for them while
developing any decision (Greenslade, McAuliffe and Chenoweth, 2015). So during the
designing of policy company need to consult their stakeholders so that they can
understand their perspective and develop policy as well as procedures accordingly.
These are some of the major people who are required to consider while developing
decision related to policy making as they will provide their perspective as well as viewpoint.
ACTIVITY 7
Provide two to three paragraph of explanatory notes under each of the following heading
 Australian Hardware sustainability initiative
Australian Hardware is the biggest retailer of hardware who operate around the world
through 138 stores as well as they also have 10000 employees. Its first store is opened in 1921 at
George St Sydney by the name of Percy's Home Good. They offer products related to several
section like Home wares, Paint, Hardware, Garden, Tools and many more.
They need to implement several sustainability initiatives so that they can sustain at
marketplace effectively. Such as they can re programme air conditioner and set proper hours at
which it will be used at head office as well as they can also make practice that last person at
office will switch off all lights and fans. They can also develop policy related to minimising use
of paper or if they use paper then it will be made up of recycle materials.
 Best practice model
The best practice model which Australian Hardware may adopt is sustainability model
that have main four aspects which based on vision and mission of a company. From four aspect
first is sustainability economic value creation which help in focusing to shareholder according to
this aspect company able to develop decision that lead to increasing economy (Hanson and et.
al., 2015).
Second aspect of internal well being which help in focusing employees of a company as
well as it will also help in making sustainable decision or policy according to which firm can
sustain at market for long time. Third aspect of environment which aid in focusing at resource,
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energy and organic growth and emissions by adopting which an organisation can sustain at
market for long time duration.
Last aspect of sustainable model is community that will include communities, customers
and suppliers which help in developing decision in effective manner through which firm can
sustain for long time duration at potential marketplace (Kim, Lee and Kim, 2015). Through this
Australian Hardware able to adopt proper resources which will help them in sustaining at
marketplace for a long time duration successfully.
 Shortfalls in existing policy
Australian Hardware implement several types of policy such as Financial Management
Policy and Project Expenditure Policy. While implementing these policies respective company
faced major issues. Such as while adopting financial management policy firm get shortfall as
they didn't have much skilled labour.
Along with this, respective company also get shortfall while implementing Project
Expenditure Policy because of shortage of skilled employees as well as less experienced staffs.
For this firm need to develop several strategies such as provide training and development session
to staffs so that they know how to handle their work properly.
 New policy requiring development
There are new several policies which are essential to be developed by Australian
Hardware as that will help them in conducting their business operation and function in effective
as well as sustainable manner (Kumar and et. al., 2016). Such as company need to replace their
old lights with LED and CFL as that will help in saving energy because these bulbs are low
energy light bulbs.
In addition to this, they also need to develop practice according to which last person who
is leaving office need to turn off all electronic its such as fan, bulb, machine, air conditioner and
so on. Respective company also need to develop strategies or policy related to reducing use of
paper cup and they need to adopt washable to reusable cups instead of that.
 Personnel requirement for policy revision
Here personnel requirement is considered as people who need to consider by a company
while developing strategies or policies for their business operations as well as sustainability
(Oakman and Chan, 2015). In respect of Australian Hardware, personnel requirement for
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developing policy and procedures are government bodies, company staff, citizen and
stakeholder.
This is so because these all people will provide suggestions as well as feedbacks which
help in developing more effective policies and procedures for increasing sustainability of
Australian Hardware.
ACTIVITY 8
Develop a revised set of policy document including
 Completed changes to existing policy documents
At Australian Hardware, management adopt completely changes in the set of their policy
document which impact on their business operations and functions such as it company decide to
use washable cups but currently no one at office use it. Along with this, according to current
policy staffs of respective company need to avoid use of paper by using PDF documents but as
per the current situation employees are print each and every document which increase the waste
of paper. Moreover, firm decide that they will use products which impact less to the environment
but the no one is following it which is impacting on the policy and procedure which management
developed. This also show that there is completely change in the existing policy document of
Australian Hardware.
 Outlines for recommended new policy documents
According to understanding situation of Australian hardware, there are several
recommendation related to new policy document so that they can sustain at marketplace for the
long time duration (Oleszek and et .al., 2015). Such as respective company may develop rule that
all bulbs will be replaced by CFL or LED as well as they may also fix usage of air conditioner
according to the business hours of company. In addition to this respective company must use
washable or reusable cups instead of using paper or one time use cups as well as they can also
develop policy that last person who is leaving office will ensure that all electronic products are
off like fan, air conditioner, bulbs and many others.
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ACTIVITY 9
Review current resource usage for the organization. Explain how developed policy that reflects
Australian Hardware commitment to sustainability and as a business opportunity.
There are several resource of Australian Hardware that will help them in adopting change
related to policy and procedures for gaining sustainability at the marketplace in effective manner
such as hard-working employees, funds, skills and experienced manager, equipment, loyal
customers, stakeholder and many more (Ritzman, 2016). The policy which respective company
want to adopt will help them in attaining sustainability at marketplace because these all policies
are related to use of those products which can be recycle and reuse. This will also help them in
saving energy, money and resource in successful way.
ACTIVITY 10
Develop an implementation plan for new and revised policy documents that includes
 Description of sustainability initiatives being implemented
Sustainability initiative which Australian Hardware want to implement are use of reuse cup, fix
time to use AC, use paper made up of recycle material and many more.
 Detail of how new sustainability initiative have been embedded in new or revised
policy documents
In order to embedded new sustainability initiative at respective company, management will
develop proper guideline and plan as well as they also provide training session that how to it
elements properly.
 An evaluation of likely effectiveness of the initiative
This initiative is effective as that will help firm in sustaining business because it minimise use of
energy as well as it will also lead to usage of resources properly (Zadow and et. al., 2017).
 Implementation timelines and milestones
In order to implement strategies company required at least 8 months.
 Strategies to minimise resource use, reduce toxic material and hazardous chemical
use and employing life cycle management approaches
In order to adopt these practices company will develop proper guidelines of using resources as
well as they also provide training that how employees avoid wastage.
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 Sustainability or environmental target and/ or key performance indicators,
compared to current resource usage
The key performance indicator which are used by Australian Hardware is based on daily
activities, client review, profit margin and so on (Kumar and et. al., 2016). This is so because it
help in analysing and comparing current situation effectively.
 Organizational costs for implementing the required change
Cost required for implementing required change are $ 65,954.
 An outline of monitoring approaches to gather information
In order to monitoring gathered information Australian Hardware will develop proper standard as
well as guideline.
 A description of individual and term responsibilities throughout implementation
stage and procedure
For attaining this individual and team responsibility is that they will use energy in minimal
manner as will as they avoid wasting resources.
 An ongoing method to identify and consult with a diverse range of stakeholders as a
key component of policy developing process
On going method which can be used by respective company will be continuous evaluation and
taking feedbacks.
 A description of how continuous improvement for the process will implemented and
managed
Implementation and management of continuous improvement method will be taken through
consulting with employees as well as different stakeholders.
CONCLUSION
By above discussed point it can be summarise that, now a day every company need to
develop strategies related through which they can sustain at the marketplace in effective manner
as well as for long time duration. For this, firm need to develop various strategies such as
adopting reuse paper, avoid use of paper cup, minimise use of air conditioner, adopt LED's and
many more. Along with this, while developing decision related to policy as well as procedure an
organisation need to consider several people such as government bodies, company staff, citizen
and stakeholder. This is so because that will help them in developing strategies as well as
policies effectively and according to the requirement. Moreover while adopting sustainable
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strategies an organisation also need to evaluate their resources as that will help them in
understanding their capabilities.
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REFRENCES
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